What is an STI?

STI is short for “sexually transmissible infection”. That means it’s an illness you can get from having unprotected sex. Unprotected sex can include vaginal sex, anal sex, or oral sex without external or internal condoms or oral dams. 

Some STIs can be passed on through touch – not only through sex. That might be sexual activity with close skin to skin contact, mutual masturbation, or sharing sex toys.

Some STIs, such as public lice and scabies, can be passed on through sharing bedding, towels, or clothing. 

And some STIs can also be passed on from mother to pēpi. HIV can be passed on during pregnancy, delivery, or through breastmilk. Syphilis can be passed on during pregnancy or delivery.

There are lots of different STIs. Some are easy to catch and are very common in Aotearoa New Zealand. Others are less common. 

STI stands for sexually transmissible infection, and STD stands for sexually transmissible disease. People use STI and STD to talk about the same thing – infections that are passed on during sex.

STI is the most accurate and up-to-date term, but lots of people still talk about STDs.

Anyone! Statistics show that more than half of us will get an STI at some point in our lives.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, they’re most common in people aged under 25 years, but you can get an STI at any age. 

STIs affect people of all genders and can be spread through all types of sexual contact. Anyone who is sexually active could get an STI.

STIs don’t always have symptoms.   

There might not be any obvious signs that you have an STI and you may feel the same as you usually do. 

Some STIs have mild symptoms that are hard to notice.

For many STIs, the only way to know for sure is to get tested. It’s important to get tested for STIs regularly to keep yourself, your partners or sexual contacts, and your whānau healthy. 

Do I need an STI test?

Sometimes STIs cause pain, discomfort, or changes to your body – especially your genitals.

It’s a sign that something might not be right with your sexual health. 

STI symptoms can include:

• unusual discharge from your vagina, penis, or anus  
• pain when you pee/mimi  
• lumps or skin growths around your genitals or anus  
• a rash  
• unusual bleeding from your vagina (bleeding between your period, or after sex)
• unusual bleeding from your anus
• itchy genitals or anus  
• blisters and sores around your genitals or anus  
• lower stomach pain  
• pain during sex  
• soreness or redness around your genitals

If you do have symptoms, you will need to see a nurse or doctor in person. They know what to look for to get you the right care, fast. 

A test from Get Tested NZ is not a replacement for seeing a medical professional if you have symptoms.

Find a provider

No symptoms? You can request a test through Get Tested NZ to check if you have an STI that’s not showing signs. If your test is positive for an STI, we’ll contact you about next steps.

Request a test

If you think you’ve been exposed to an STI, it's best to have an in-person appointment to make sure you get the right tests and treatment straight away if you need it.

Find an in-person provider

If you can’t get to a clinic, it's a good idea to talk to us (free phone 0508 438 8378 or start a webchat) to make sure you test at the right time. 

Different STIs are detected with different types of tests. The type of STI test that’s best for you will depend on what genitals you have and what kind of sex you have.  

With Get Tested NZ, if you don’t have symptoms, you can access free tests for four different STIs: chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV, and syphilis.

How it works

Many common STIs are easily treated.

The type of treatment you need will depend on the STI you have, but treatments include antibiotics and antivirals. You can see your usual doctor or another treatment provider to get treatment. 

If it's safe, tell people that you have had sexual contact with recently that they might need an STI test or treatment. 

What to do if you test positive

The safe way to protect yourself from STIs is using condoms or oral dams every time you have sex.

Using lube with condoms helps to prevent the condom from breaking during sex by reducing friction. Lube can also make sex more pleasurable for some people.

There are also other ways to protect yourself from STIs – like medication and regular testing.

How to prevent STIs